Flair aggravated a previous shoulder injury in the September 21 match in Japan. He underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in late October and did not wrestle until May 1997. WCW stripped him of the U.S. title and held a tournament, which culminated at Starrcade in December.

Flair is sued by WCW for breach of contract after failing to make scheduled appearances. Flair contended that the days were known about in advance. Flair later countersued, on the basis that Eric Bischoff's treatment of him was increasingly more and more demeaning and that WCW was holding him to a contract that he did not sign (he had signed a letter of intent, but refused to sign the contract because he states that the terms were different than those he had agreed to). His previous contract had expired in February. The suits never came before a judge, as Flair returned to WCW on September 14.

The 11/18 listing against Kane was a match in name only. Flair was not wrestling during this time period because of heart issues. He did appear on television as a manager and generally took a couple of bumps each week.

Flair aggravated a previous shoulder injury in the September 21 match in Japan. He underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in late October and did not wrestle until May 1997. WCW stripped him of the U.S. title and held a tournament, which culminated at Starrcade in December.

Flair is sued by WCW for breach of contract after failing to make scheduled appearances. Flair contended that the days were known about in advance. Flair later countersued, on the basis that Eric Bischoff's treatment of him was increasingly more and more demeaning and that WCW was holding him to a contract that he did not sign (he had signed a letter of intent, but refused to sign the contract because he states that the terms were different than those he had agreed to). His previous contract had expired in February. The suits never came before a judge, as Flair returned to WCW on September 14.

The 11/18 listing against Kane was a match in name only. Flair was not wrestling during this time period because of heart issues. He did appear on television as a manager and generally took a couple of bumps each week.